Home sweet home in Italy's hidden gem

US globetrotter and Mamma Mia Indeed co-founder Kat Smith has put down roots in Trieste. Here, she tells MILO BOYD exactly why

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A seasoned traveller who has visited almost every corner of Italy has chosen an often overlooked one to be her home. Kat Smith has been travelling the world for the past 13 years, putting down roots for short periods before moving on.

The one place that has captured the American globetrotter's heart, and where she has been living for the past two and a half years, is one that rarely receives much attention from tourists. Although that does seem to be changing.

Trieste saw its overnight stays more than double from around 700,000 in 2021 to 1.5 million in 2024, a significant increase driven by a growing number of tourists visiting the city.

That compares to 29 million overnight stays in Rome last year.

"I've travelled Italy extensively, going to at least one new place every month since moving here in August 2023. Some cities, like Naples, Rome and Venice, I've found myself returning to again and again, but I always make time to explore a new corner of Italy. I've travelled from the southern tip of Puglia to the northern border with Austria, making plenty of stops throughout the country and even to Sardinia," Kat, co-founder of Mamma Mia Indeed, says.

"One of my favourite cities is Trieste. Although still relatively unknown outside of Italy, Trieste is slowly starting to come out of its shell and get the recognition it deserves."